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Neurology India 2023Neuropsychiatric disorders, ranging from mild cognitive impairment to frank psychosis, have been associated with certain parasitic infections. The parasite may cause... (Review)
Review
Neuropsychiatric disorders, ranging from mild cognitive impairment to frank psychosis, have been associated with certain parasitic infections. The parasite may cause damage to the central nervous system in several ways: as a space-occupying lesion (neuro-cysticercosis), alteration of neurotransmitters (toxoplasmosis), generation of the inflammatory response (trypanosomiasis, schistosomiasis), hypovolemic neuronal injury (cerebral malaria), or a combination of these. Certain drugs like quinacrine (mepacrine), mefloquine, quinolone, and interferon alpha which are used to treat these parasitic infections can further cause neuropsychiatric adverse effects. This review summarizes the major parasitic infections that are associated with neuropsychiatric disorders and the pathogenesis involved in their processes. A high index of suspicion for parasitic diseases, especially in endemic areas, should be kept in patients presenting with neuropsychiatric symptoms. A multidimensional approach to identification of the offending parasite using serological, radiological, and molecular tests is required not only to ensure proper and prompt treatment of the primary parasitic infection but also to improve the prognosis of patients by complete resolution of neuropsychiatric symptoms.
Topics: Humans; Parasitic Diseases; Central Nervous System; Mental Disorders; Mefloquine; Cysticercosis
PubMed: 37148042
DOI: 10.4103/0028-3886.375424 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2023This study sought to investigate the parasitic diseases of neglected tropical diseases defined by the World Health Organization based on the Global Burden of Disease...
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to investigate the parasitic diseases of neglected tropical diseases defined by the World Health Organization based on the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) database. Importantly, we analyzed the prevalence and burden of these diseases in China from 1990 to 2019 to provide valuable information to formulate more effective measures for their management and prevention.
METHODS
Data on the prevalence and burden of neglected parasitic diseases in China from 1990 to 2019 were extracted from the global health data exchange (GHDx) database, including the absolute number of prevalence, age-standardized prevalence rate, disability-adjusted life year (DALY) and age-standardized DALY rate. Descriptive analysis was used to analyze the prevalence and burden changes, sex and age distribution of various parasitic diseases from 1990 to 2019. A time series model [Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA)] was used to predict the DALYs of neglected parasitic diseases in China from 2020 to 2030.
RESULTS
In 2019, the number of neglected parasitic diseases in China was 152518062, the age-standardized prevalence was 11614.1 (95% uncertainty interval (UI) 8758.5-15244.5), the DALYs were 955722, and the age-standardized DALY rate was 54.9 (95% UI 26.0-101.8). Among these, the age-standardized prevalence of soil-derived helminthiasis was the highest (9370.2/100,000), followed by food-borne trematodiases (1502.3/100,000) and schistosomiasis (707.1/100,000). The highest age-standardized DALY rate was for food-borne trematodiases (36.0/100,000), followed by cysticercosis (7.9/100,000) and soil-derived helminthiasis (5.6/100,000). Higher prevalence and disease burden were observed in men and the upper age group. From 1990 to 2019, the number of neglected parasitic diseases in China decreased by 30.4%, resulting in a decline in DALYs of 27.3%. The age-standardized DALY rates of most diseases were decreased, especially for soil-derived helminthiasis, schistosomiasis and food-borne trematodiases. The ARIMA prediction model showed that the disease burden of echinococcosis and cysticercosis exhibited an increasing trend, highlighting the need for further prevention and control.
CONCLUSION
Although the prevalence and disease burden of neglected parasitic diseases in China have decreased, many issues remain to be addressed. More efforts should be undertaken to improve the prevention and control strategies for different parasitic diseases. The government should prioritize multisectoral integrated control and surveillance measures to prioritize the prevention and control of diseases with a high burden of disease. In addition, the older adult population and men need to pay more attention.
Topics: Male; Humans; Aged; Global Burden of Disease; Prevalence; Quality-Adjusted Life Years; Parasitic Diseases; Helminthiasis; Cysticercosis
PubMed: 37293619
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1077723 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2020
Topics: Animals; Antibodies; Cellular Microenvironment; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Paraproteinemias; Parasitic Diseases; Phenotype; Plasma Cells; Time Factors
PubMed: 33193457
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.606737 -
Microbial Pathogenesis May 2022Shrimp aquaculture industry has steadily increased with demand and development of aquaculture technology. In recent years, frequent diseases have become a major risk... (Review)
Review
Shrimp aquaculture industry has steadily increased with demand and development of aquaculture technology. In recent years, frequent diseases have become a major risk factor for shrimp aquaculture, such as a drastically reduced the production of shrimp and causing national economic loss. Among them, shrimp bacterial diseases such as hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) and necrotizing hepatopancreatitis (NHP-B) and parasitic disease such as Aphanomyces astaci (crayfish plague) are emerging and evolving into new types. OIE (World Organization for Animal Health) regularly updates information on diseases in the Aquatic Code and Aquatic Manual, but in-depth information on the shrimp diseases are lacking. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to provide information necessary for the response and prevention of shrimp diseases by understanding the characteristics and diagnosis of shrimp diseases designated by OIE.
Topics: Animals; Aquaculture; Necrosis; Parasitic Diseases; Penaeidae; Seafood
PubMed: 35452787
DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2022.105545 -
Advances in Parasitology 2023Around 25% of the global population suffer from one or more parasitic infections, of which food- and vector-borne parasitic zoonotic diseases are a major concern.... (Review)
Review
Around 25% of the global population suffer from one or more parasitic infections, of which food- and vector-borne parasitic zoonotic diseases are a major concern. Additionally, zoonoses and communicable diseases, common to man and animals, are drawing increased attention worldwide. Significant changes in climatic conditions, cropping pattern, demography, food habits, increasing international travel, marketing and trade, deforestation, and urbanization play vital roles in the emergence and re-emergence of parasitic zoonoses. Although it is likely to be underestimated, the collective burden of food- and vector-borne parasitic diseases accounts for ∼60 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Out of 20 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 13 diseases are of parasitic origin. There are about 200 zoonotic diseases of which the WHO listed eight as neglected zoonotic diseases (NZDs) in the year 2013. Out of these eight NZDs, four diseases, namely cysticercosis, hydatidosis, leishmaniasis, and trypanosomiasis, are caused by parasites. In this review, we discuss the global burden and impacts of food- and vector-borne zoonotic parasitic diseases.
Topics: Animals; Parasites; Zoonoses; Parasitic Diseases; Cysticercosis; Echinococcosis; Neglected Diseases; Global Health
PubMed: 36948728
DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2023.02.001 -
Gastroenterology Clinics of North... Jun 2020Hepatosplenic candidiasis and other fungal infections of the liver are uncommon in healthy individuals; however, high index of suspicion is essential in... (Review)
Review
Hepatosplenic candidiasis and other fungal infections of the liver are uncommon in healthy individuals; however, high index of suspicion is essential in immunocompromised patients with prolonged fever. Parasitic infections are protozoan or helminthic; their distribution and epidemiology are variable among different world regions. Clonorchiasis, opisthorchiasis, fascioliasis, and ascariasis are helminthic infections that commonly involve the biliary systems. Signs and symptoms of cholangitis require prompt management to relieve biliary obstruction; addition of antihelminthic agents is essential. Parasitic infections are mostly transmitted to humans by fecally contaminated food and water. Proper hand and food sanitation measures are essential in preventing disease transmission.
Topics: Anthelmintics; Ascariasis; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; Cholestasis; Clonorchiasis; Fascioliasis; Fever; Helminthiasis; Hepatitis; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Liver Diseases, Parasitic; Mycoses; Opisthorchiasis
PubMed: 32389369
DOI: 10.1016/j.gtc.2020.01.009 -
Parasitology International Apr 2020Proliferative sparganosis is one of the most bizarre and mysterious parasitic diseases ever described. The causative parasite is Sparganum proliferum, which is a... (Review)
Review
Proliferative sparganosis is one of the most bizarre and mysterious parasitic diseases ever described. The causative parasite is Sparganum proliferum, which is a pseudophyllidean cestode distinct from Spirometra tapeworms. Here we overview this rare but fascinating disease with the all original case reports on human patients published in the last 115 years. Proliferative sparganosis is clearly divided into two disease types, cutaneous and internal proliferative sparganosis. Cutaneous type starts with a skin eruption caused by the dermal invasion of a sparganum. Skin lesion progresses to larger areas of the body if left untreated. Various internal organs and body wall can be eventually affected. The clinical symptoms of patients in this group are very similar to each other. Molecular data suggest that cutaneous proliferative sparganosis is caused by S. proliferum of which genetic variation is limited, regardless of the time or localities of the emergence of patients. Internal proliferative sparganosis, on the other hand, is much more heterogeneous. Some cases show aggressive infection in internal organs, while others show only restricted lesions. Some of the cases that had been cited as proliferative sparganosis in the past literature were removed from the list, because they were judged as cyclophyllidean tapeworm infections. DNA sequencing is mandatory for the definite diagnosis of proliferative sparganosis. The Venezuelan strain of S. proliferum is maintained in experimental mice in Japan, which is fully prepared for the experimental study with advanced technologies in modern molecular biology.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Skin Diseases, Parasitic; Sparganosis; Sparganum
PubMed: 31841658
DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2019.102036 -
PLoS Pathogens Nov 2019The shape and number of mitochondria respond to the metabolic needs during the cell cycle of the eukaryotic cell. In the best-studied model systems of animals and fungi,... (Review)
Review
The shape and number of mitochondria respond to the metabolic needs during the cell cycle of the eukaryotic cell. In the best-studied model systems of animals and fungi, the cells contain many mitochondria, each carrying its own nucleoid. The organelles, however, mostly exist as a dynamic network, which undergoes constant cycles of division and fusion. These mitochondrial dynamics are driven by intricate protein machineries centered around dynamin-related proteins (DRPs). Here, we review recent advances on the dynamics of mitochondria and mitochondrion-related organelles (MROs) of parasitic protists. In contrast to animals and fungi, many parasitic protists from groups of Apicomplexa or Kinetoplastida carry only a single mitochondrion with a single nucleoid. In these groups, mitochondrial division is strictly coupled to the cell cycle, and the morphology of the organelle responds to the cell differentiation during the parasite life cycle. On the other hand, anaerobic parasitic protists such as Giardia, Entamoeba, and Trichomonas contain multiple MROs that have lost their organellar genomes. We discuss the function of DRPs, the occurrence of mitochondrial fusion, and mitophagy in the parasitic protists from the perspective of eukaryote evolution.
Topics: Animals; Mitochondrial Dynamics; Parasites; Parasitic Diseases
PubMed: 31751405
DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008008 -
Parasitology Sep 2022In the present paper, we review two of the most neglected intestinal food-borne trematodiases: echinostomiasis, caused by members of the family Echinostomatidae, and... (Review)
Review
In the present paper, we review two of the most neglected intestinal food-borne trematodiases: echinostomiasis, caused by members of the family Echinostomatidae, and gastrodiscoidiasis produced by the amphistome . Both parasitic infections are important intestinal food-borne diseases. Humans become infected after ingestion of raw or insufficiently cooked molluscs, fish, crustaceans, amphibians or aquatic vegetables. Thus, eating habits are essential to determine the distribution of these parasitic diseases and, traditionally, they have been considered as minor diseases confined to low-income areas, mainly in Asia. However, this scenario is changing and the population at risk are currently expanding in relation to factors such as new eating habits in developed countries, growing international markets, improved transportation systems and demographic changes. These aspects determine the necessity of a better understanding of these parasitic diseases. Herein, we review the main features of human echinostomiasis and gastrodiscoidiasis in relation to their biology, epidemiology, immunology, clinical aspects, diagnosis and treatment.
Topics: Animals; Echinostomatidae; Echinostomiasis; Humans; Parasitic Diseases; Trematoda; Trematode Infections
PubMed: 35343418
DOI: 10.1017/S0031182022000385 -
Turkiye Parazitolojii Dergisi Jun 2020MicroRNAs (miRNAs), as epigenetic regulators, are small non-coding RNAs regulating gene expression in eukaryotes at the post-transcriptional level to control biological... (Review)
Review
MicroRNAs (miRNAs), as epigenetic regulators, are small non-coding RNAs regulating gene expression in eukaryotes at the post-transcriptional level to control biological functions. MicroRNAs play a role in development, physiology, infection, immunity and the complex life cycles of parasites. Also, parasite infection can alter host miRNA expression that might result in either parasite clearance or infection. Over the past 20 years, thousands of miRNAs have been identified in the nematode and other parasites. Thus, miRNA pathways are potential targets for the diagnostic and therapeutic control of parasitic diseases. Here, we review the current status and potential functions of miRNAs related to protozoans, helminths, and arthropods.
Topics: Animals; Arthropods; Caenorhabditis elegans; Helminths; Humans; MicroRNAs; Parasites; Parasitic Diseases; RNA, Protozoan
PubMed: 32482043
DOI: 10.4274/tpd.galenos.2020.6776